Intermittent printing apparatus for paper bag and like machines



April 13, 1965 E. R. MILLS 3,177,806

INTERMITTENT PRINTING APPARATUS FOR PAPER BAG AND LIKE MACHINES Filed July 12, 1963 24 Fig-.4.

Emme-H' R.M.ills

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,177,806 NT PRINTING APPARATUS FOR PAPER BAG AND LIKE MACH Emmett R. Mills, 908 th St., Washougal, Wash. Filed July 12, 1963, Ser. No. 294,524 4 Claims. (Cl. Nth-223) This invention relates to intermittent printing apparatus. It pertains particularly to intermittent printing apparatus for attachment to paper bag and like machines used for forming paper bags or other unit products from web material, such as paper, plastic film, fabric, metal foil and the like. The invention is described herein with particular reference to its application in a paper bag machine, but without intended limitation.

It is the general object of the present invention to pro vide simple, compact, intermittent printing apparatus for attachment to a paper bag or like machine, which apparatus is driven positively from the moving web, and which prints the desired insignia sharply and without smearing, even though the web is moving rapidly and the printing apparatus goes through a complete printing cycle many times a minute.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of intermittent printing apparatus for paper bag and like machines which registers accurately with the work, is easily adjustable to accommodate work of varying dimensions, which easily may be adjusted, either laterally or longitudinally to print the work in a predetermined location, and which is provided with means for mounting selected printing plates interchangeably in the apparatus, making it possible to print on the work freight instructions, brand names, commercial information, or various other selected indicia.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims, considered together with the drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in which the herein described intermittent printing apparatus operatively is coupled to the rolls of a paper bag or like machine;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are elevational and plan views, respectively, of the herein described intermittent printing apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3.

As indicated above, the intermittent printing apparatus of my invention is designed for attachment to a paper bag or like machine, having for its function the manufacture of paper bags or other unit products from web material. In such machines the web traverses a first roll, which is used as the driving roll for the present printing apparatus, and accordingly is termed herein a driving roll. It also traverses a second roll, which actuates the printing mechanism and which, accordingly, is termed herein an actuating roll. The actuating roll turns a predetermined number of revolutions for the production of each unit product.

In accordance with the present invention, the novel printing apparatus which is attached to a machine of the above described character basically comprises a drive shaft mounting printing roll means which are positioned operatively with respect to the web; and link means which link the drive shaft to the driving roll of the machine and drive the drive shaft at a rate predetermined to impart to the printing roll means a peripheral speed which is substantially equal to the linear speed of the web.

The apparatus is controlled electrically and in the electric circuit are electrically operated clutching and braking means for the drive shaft. Electric switch means also 3,177,806 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 'ice are in the electric circuit, positioned adjacent the actuating roll. The latter bears switch-actuating means which operate the switch means after a predetermined number of revolutions of the actuating roll. This actuates the clutching and braking means as required alternately to actuate and deactuate the printing roll means, thereby imprinting selected areas of the web only.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings:

As indicated in FIG. 1, the web of paper or other material 10 to be printed intermittently in predetermined locations is reeved about a guide roll 12 and a second roll 14 which serves as a driving roll, since it is used to drive the adjacently located printing apparatus. Driving roll 14 preferably, however, is an idler roll of the bag machine and accordingly is driven at a peripheral speed directly commensurate with the linear speed of the web.

Driving roll 14 is mounted on a shaft 16 to which is keyed a sprocket 18. This is used to drive the printing apparatus in the manner to be described.

Also associated with the bag machine is a third or actu ating roll 20, the shaft 22 only of which is visible on the drawings. This roll may be at a location remote from the printing apparatus. It is selected because in the inherent operation of the bag machine it revolves a predetermined number of revolutions, one for example, for each desired energization of the printing apparatus.

Actuating roll 20 bears at its outer end means for actuating the printing apparatus.

In the illustrated embodiment the actuating means comprises a cam 24. The cam is adjustably secured to actuating roll 2%} by means of set collar 26. Thus, by adjusting the radial position of the cam on the shaft, the printing may be located longitudinally of the work.

Cooperating with cam 24 is a microswitch 28 operated by a cam follower 30 and operative to control the action of the printer, as will be described hereinafter.

The intermittent printing apparatus triggered by switch 28 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A U-shaped frame 38 is supported from the bag machine on vertical arms 39. Across the frame a primary drive shaft 40 is journaled in bearings 41.

This shaft is driven from driving roll 14, referred to above, by means of a chain 42, which engages sprocket m shaft 16 as well as an idler sprocket 44 and an intermediate sprocket 46 keyed to shaft 40. Chain 42 is so arranged as to drive shaft 40, and the printing roll which it mounts, in the direction of travel of web 10.

Shaft 40 mounts both the printing roll component of the printing roll means and an electrically operatadclutching and braking assembly for driving the printing roll intermittently.

The printing roll comprises a roll 50 mounted for lateral adjustment on the shaft by set collars 52. Thus the position of the roll may be shifted as required to print a given area of the web, laterally considered.

Roll 50 in turn mounts an arcuate printing plate 54. This bears the freight loading information, advertising matter, or other indicia desired, and is 'releasably secured to the periphery of roll 50 by bolts 56 or other suitable means. Hence it may be removed easily and replaced with another plate when the occasion demands.

It is important to note that the diameter of roll 50 with plate 54 mounted thereon is the same as that of driving it ing roll, but on the other side of web 10. It serves as a press bed against which printing plate 54 works.

Also journaled across frame 33 is a secondary drive shaft 60, journaled in bearings 62. This shaft is driven from primary drive shaft 41) by means of a drive chain 64 engaging a sprocket 66 fixed to primary drive shaft 49 and a sprocket 63 fixed to secondary drive shaft 60.

Secondary drive shaft 66 mounts an ink transfer roll 70 which dips into an ink pan 72 and peripherally engages an inking roll 74. The latter is fixed to a shaft 76, journaled for rotation in bearings 7 8.

Inking roll 74 is dirven from ink transfer roll 70 by intermeshing gears 80, 82 fixed to the ends of the respective roll shafts. The periphery of roll '74 contacts printing'plate 56 on printing roll 54), thus inking it with each revolution.

The clutching and braking assembly which governs the operation of printing roll 50 also is mounted on primary drive shaft 40. It is indicated generally by the numeral 90. It includes a clutch unit 9%, which revolves with the shaft and is of conventional construction, and a fixed brake unit 96a, mounted on a stationary bracket 91.

These two units are electrically operated in such a manner that, when suitably energized, the clutch is engaged and the brake released, permitting rotation of printing roll 50 with shaft 4:). However, upon suitable subsequent energization the reverse action occurs, the clutch being disengaged and the brake engaged to arrest instantaneously the rotary motion of the printing roll.

Clutching and braking unit is supplied with electric energy through an armature 92 provided with spaced and insulated electrical contact rings 94. These engage the brushes of a brush unit 96 mounted on a bracket 98.

The brushes are in an electric circuit with microswitch 28. In the same electric circuit is a second microswitch 100 operated by a cam roll 102. The latter in turn is actuated by a cam or button 104 on the housing oftclutching and braking unit 90.

Operation The operation of the herein described intermittent print ing apparatus will be apparent particularly from a consideration of FIGS. 1 and 4. The apparatus is mounted adjacent a moving web 10 of paper bag or other web material, passing over guide roll 12; idler roll 14, which drives the printing unit; printing backing roll 58; and ac-' tuating roll 20, which turns one revolution for each repeat length of the work.

Roll 14 drives primary drive shaft 40 which mounts printing roll 50 to which releasably is secured a printing plate 54. The diameter of the printing roll and plate is the same as that of roll 14 which drives the printing assembly. Therefore the peripheral speed of the printing plate is the same as the linear speed of the web.

When cam 24- actuates microswitch 28, a circuit is closed through a circuit box 106 which includes a holding relay. This engages the clutch and releases the brake of unit 90. Printing roll t) thereupon makes one complete revolution, imprinting the desired indicia on the web, the circuit being kept closed by the holding relay of box 106.

After the revolution has been completed, cam 104- on the unit housing actuates microswi-tch 100. This alters the circuit to disengage the clutch and apply the brake, stopping the rotation of the printing roll, but only after roller 102 has coasted past the cam, to set the circuit for subsequent energization by microswitch 28. This sequence occurs repeatedly, many times a minute, during the normal operation of the bag machine.

Lateral adjustment of the location of the printing on the web is secured readily by releasing set collar 52 and sliding roll 59 laterally to the desired location. Longitudinal positioning of the printing on the web is secured by adjustment of cam 24 relative to cam follower 30. The printed indicia may be changed quickly, simply by removing printing plate 54 and applying another plate.

Thus it will be apparent that I have provided a simple, easily installed but versatile printing attachment for paper bag and like machines which will print the desired message intermittently, on successive or spaced work units, at a high rate of speed, without blurring of the printing, and on web materials of diverse sizes and composition.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Intermittent printing apparatus for attachment to a paper bag or like machine for forming bags or other unit products from web material, in which machine the web traverses a driving roll and an actuating roll, the actuating roll turning a predetermined number of revolutions for the production of each unit product, the printing apparatus comprising:

(a) a drive shaft,

(1:) printing roll means on the drive shaft operatively positioned with respect to the web,

(c) link means linking the drive shaft to the driving roll for driving the drive shaft at a rate predetermined to impart to the printing roll means a peripheral speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the web,

(d) an electric circuit,

(e) electrically operated clutching and braking means I for the drive shaft, in the electric circuit,

(1) first electrical switch means adjacent the actuating roll, and in the electric circuit,

(g) first switch actuating means on the actuating roll for operating the first switch means after a predetermined number of revolutions of the actuating roll, thereby actuating the clutch and brake means alternately for printing the adjacent web, one unit product at a time,

(h) second electric switch means in the electric circuit,

positioned adjacent the drive shaft, and

(1') second switch actuating means turning with the drive shaft and positioned to operate the second switch means,

(i) the first named switch means being operative to engage the clutching means and release the braking means, and the second named switch means being operative after apredetermined revolution of the drive shaft to disengage the clutching means and apply the braking means.

2. The intermittent printing apparatus of claim 1 including a U-shaped frame across which the drive shaft is journaled, an inking roll shaft journaled across the frame parallel to and spaced from the drive shaft, and inking roll means on the inking roll shaft positioned in working relation to the printing roll.

3. The intermittent printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch actuating means comprises cam means and including cam adjusting means for adjusting the position of the cam rotationally with respect to the actuating roll and hence relative to the switch means, thereby timing the printing roll actuation with the adjacent web position. a

4. Intermittent printing apparatus for attachment to a paper bag or like machine for forming paper bags or other unit products from web material, in which machine the Web traverses an idler roll and an actuating roll, the actuating roll turning one revolution for each unit prodnot produced by the machine, the printing apparatus comprising:

(a) a drive shaft,

(11) printing roll means including a printing roll having the same diameter as the idler roll on the drive shaft operatively positioned with respect to the web,

(c) link means linking the drive shaft to the idler roll U for driving the drive shaft at a rate which imparts to the printing roll a peripheral speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the Web,

(d) an electric circuit,

(e) an electrically operated clutching and braking means for the drive shaft, in the electric circuit, (1) a first electric switch means adjacent the actuating roll, in the electric circuit,

(g) cam means on the actuating roll for operating the first switch means at each revolution of the actuating roll, thereby engaging the clutching means and releasing the braking means, initiating the rotary motion of the printing roll,

(h) second electric switch means adjacent the drive shaft and in the electric circuit,

(i) second electric switch operating means rotating with the drive shaft and positioned to contact the 6 second electric switch means on each revolution of the drive shaft,

(j) the second electric switch means thereupon being operative to disengage the clutching means and engage the braking means, thereby arresting the motion of the printing roll pending subsequent actuation thereof by operation of the cam means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,174 7/53 Levin 101247 X 2,929,318 3/60 Pannier 101-245 X 2,967,479 1/61 George et a1. 101228 3,026,797 3/62 Gottscho 1()l228 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. INTERMITTENT PRINTING APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A PAPER BAG OR LIKE MACHINE FOR FORMING BAGS OR OTHER UNIT PRODUCTS FROM WEB MATERIAL, IN WHICH MACHINE THE WEB TRAVERSES A DRIVING ROLL AND AN ACTUATING ROLL, THE ACTUATING ROLL TURNING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EACH UNIT PRODUCT, THE PRINTING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A DRIVE SHAFT, (B) PRINTING ROLL MEANS ON THE DRIVE SHAFT OPERATIVELY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE WEB, (C) LINK MEANS LINKING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE DRIVING ROLL FOR DRIVING THE DRIVE SHAFT AT A RATE PREDETERMINED TO IMPART TO THE PRINTING ROLL MEANS A PERIPHERAL SPEEDD SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LINEAR SPEED OF THE WEB, (D) AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, (E) ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CLUTCHING AND BRAKING MEANS FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT, IN THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, (F) FIRST ELECTRICAL SWITCH MEANS ADJACENT THE ACTUATING ROLL, AND IN THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, 